Thread by @WHO

More than half a million #COVID19 patients are estimated to need oxygen in low- and middle-income countries.

25 countries are currently reporting surges in demand, the majority in Africa bit.ly/2Mp4z9k

Oxygen was in short supply in several countries even before #COVID19, which can increase demand in health facilities as much as 5-7 times above normal times bit.ly/2Mp4z9k

Oxygen is an essential medicine used to care for many types of patients, including for:
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Heart failure
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Maternal and child care
- #COVID19
bit.ly/2Mp4z9k

Since early in the pandemic, WHO has scaled up oxygen supply in the most vulnerable countries.
In Hargeisa, Somaliland, oxygen concentrators donated by WHO are making a difference not only for #COVID19 patients but also children with pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

WHO and partners like @UNITAID and @wellcometrust are launching a #COVID19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce as part of the @ACTAccelerator - set up to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.

#ACTogether

The new taskforce will accelerate the scale-up of access to oxygen, a life-saving treatment, and @UNITAID and @wellcometrust are allocating USD20 million immediately towards this.

https://twitter.com/who/status/1365108001741426691

WHO and partners have distributed over 30,000 oxygen concentrators, 40,000 pulse oximeters and patient monitors which have reached 121 countries, incl. 37 countries that are classified as “fragile” bit.ly/3aSx74C

WHO and partners have also worked with 15 countries to set up 33 oxygen generating plants to provide oxygen at scale, provided technical advice to governments & provided a tool to estimate oxygen requirements for #COVID19

More: bit.ly/2Mp4z9k

https://twitter.com/who/status/1365116112560672769

In the past, Somaliland, Chad & South Sudan have had to rely on oxygen cylinders from foreign private vendors, limiting the continuity of supply.
WHO is working in these regions to design oxygen plants to fit local needs & create a sustainable, self-sufficient supply.